Hackney Approves 400 New Council Homes Funding

Key Points

• Hackney Council’s cabinet approved funding this week for construction to start on 400 new council homes across 14 underused sites, including garages and derelict offices.​
• At least 300 of the homes will be for council social rent, funded by the Mayor of London’s Affordable Homes Fund and the council itself.
• Specific sites include nine terraced houses on Nye Bevan Estate in Clapton, 19 super energy-efficient homes at Morris Blitz Court off Rectory Road in Stoke Newington, and 18 homes replacing garages at Blackwell Close on Clapton Park Estate.
• Mayor of Hackney Caroline Woodley described it as a milestone towards 1,000 new council homes for social rent, emphasising spacious, energy-efficient designs prioritising local residents.​
• The council is delivering 972 new council homes amid challenges like construction costs exceeding £500,000 per home in London due to new regulations.
• Homes are designed with community input, prioritise those in need, and have won awards like RIBA’s Neave Brown Award.​
• Nye Bevan Estate homes: Nine family-sized (three bedrooms, study, gardens), Passivhaus standard, designed by Citizens Design Bureau, with new pocket park; £2.25m from Mayor’s fund.
• Morris Blitz Court: 19 social rent flats on disused office site, Passivhaus standard, designed by Archio, new green space with play facilities; planning ref 2025/1208, construction spring 2026.
• Blackwell Close: 18 social rent homes replacing garages, mix of sizes, designed by Al-Jawad Pike, community garden, public spaces; part of Clapton Park Estate improvements.
• Cllr Guy Nicholson praised determination despite costs; Tom Copley welcomed investment for fairer city.
• Broader programme: Over 950-972 homes in design/build/buy; resident involvement since 2022.

Hackney (East London Times) January 29, 2026 – Funding to get spades in the ground on 400 new council homes across Hackney was approved by the council’s cabinet this week, marking a significant step in addressing the borough’s housing crisis.​

The initiative targets 14 council-owned sites such as underused garages and derelict offices, with at least 300 homes designated for council social rent. Funding draws from the Mayor of London’s Affordable Homes Fund and direct council resources. Mayor of Hackney Caroline Woodley hailed the decision as

“another milestone in our mission to deliver 1,000 new council homes for social rent across Hackney, which will see spades in the ground on 400 new homes.”

What Funding Has Been Approved for New Council Homes?

The cabinet’s approval unlocks construction at key sites, including nine new terraced houses on the Nye Bevan Estate, energy-efficient homes at Morris Blitz Court, and a block of 18 homes at Blackwell Close in Clapton. As detailed in the official announcement on the Hackney Council news site, the programme repurposes underutilised land without demolishing existing homes.

Cllr Guy Nicholson, Cabinet Member for regeneration, noted in a related release:

“Hackney is building hundreds of new Council homes across the borough.”

He added,

“The Nye Bevan terrace will be the Council’s first to be built to Passivhaus standard meaning it will need less energy to provide warm, spacious homes for local families that need them most.”

Despite rises in building costs plaguing London’s construction industry, Nicholson thanked residents for shaping the designs.​

Tom Copley, London’s Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, stated:

“It’s fantastic that nine brand-new family-sized homes will be built at Nye Bevan Estate in Hackney thanks to a £2.25 million investment through the Mayor of London’s Affordable Homes Programme.”

Copley emphasised:

“These sustainable, affordable homes at social rent levels will boost the local community and support the Council’s plans to build more than 300 council homes across the borough as we continue to build a better, fairer and more inclusive city for everyone.”

Which Sites Will See New Homes Built First?

Construction kicks off at prominent locations like Nye Bevan Estate along Millfields Road in Clapton, where nine family-sized homes—each featuring three bedrooms, a study room, and private gardens—replace underused garages. Designed by local architects Citizens Design Bureau, these mark Hackney’s first Passivhaus-standard homes, minimising energy for heating and cooling.

A new pocket park will serve all estate residents, with ambitions to replicate the design borough-wide. The project team includes landscape architects Mark Lemanski Studio, cost consultants Bristow Consulting, planning consultants HTA Design, multi-disciplinary engineers XCO2, and structural engineers Simple Works.

At Morris Blitz Court off Rectory Road, 19 new flats will rise on the site of an unused neighbourhood office, all for social rent. Hackney Council’s Morris Blitz Court page confirms:

“We plan to build 19 new flats… We also plan to make some improvements to the landscape and shared outdoor spaces on the site.”

Designed by Archio to Passivhaus standards, the scheme includes a new green space with play facilities like a large slide linking courtyard levels. A planning application (ref 2025/1208) has been submitted, with construction eyed for spring 2026 if approved. Resident consultations occurred in summer 2022, June, October 2024, and April 2025.

Blackwell Close on Clapton Park Estate will host 18 social rent homes in place of single-storey garages, blending sizes to suit local needs. Award-winning Al-Jawad Pike, fresh from the RIBA Neave Brown Award for Chowdhury Walk, leads the design, incorporating generous public spaces and a relocated community garden. A spokesperson for Al-Jawad Pike remarked:

“We are delighted that the Blackwell Close scheme has received planning approval. Our design approach has focused on creating architecture that is quietly transformative… Shaped through a collaborative consultation process, the proposals ensure that the new homes, shared spaces, and improved access across the site respond sensitively and positively to community aspirations.”

Project teams for Morris Blitz and Blackwell Close share consultants like Bristow Consulting, HTA Planning, and XCO2, with landscapes by Studio ONB and Periscope respectively.

What Did Mayor Caroline Woodley Say About the Approval?

Mayor Caroline Woodley elaborated:

“We’re building some of the best new council homes in the country. They’re spacious, energy efficient, designed in partnership with communities and, most importantly of all, local people always get first dibs.”

She continued:

“I’m proud of our record, but we know there’s more to do, which is why we want to expand our housing programmes to build and buy back thousands more for the people in desperate need of somewhere to call home.”​

In a separate Hackney Citizen article, Woodley reinforced:

“In Hackney we have one of the most ambitious programmes of building new social rent council homes in the country, but I know we can’t just build our way out of the housing crisis.”

She affirmed commitment to buying back Right to Buy properties:

“That’s why we’re buying back homes lost under Right To Buy, so they can once again be used as the social housing they were built as and prioritised for local families who need them most.”​

Cllr Guy Nicholson, Deputy Mayor, echoed in the Stoke Newington and Clapton homes approval:

“In Hackney, we’re proud that the Council is currently delivering 972 new social rent Council homes for those in the local community who need a home the most. This is one of the most ambitious social housing programmes in the country.”

He highlighted:

“The new Council homes at Morris Blitz Court and Blackwell Close have been co-designed to the highest design and sustainability standards by the architects, the council and local community working together, an approach that is applied to all of the Council’s new homes projects.”​

Kyle Buchanan, Director at Archio, said:

“This project demonstrates how new council housing can be both ambitiously sustainable and deeply community-focused. By designing to Passivhaus standards and reimagining the shared spaces around Morris Blitz Court, we’re helping to create a more connected and resilient neighbourhood.”​

How Does This Fit into Hackney’s Broader Housing Programme?

The 400 homes form part of the New Homes Programme on underused council land, contributing to over 950-972 homes currently in design, build, or purchase phases. All prioritise residents in greatest need, with locals first in line.

Despite financial hurdles—new regulations pushing costs above £500,000 per London council home—the council presses on. Homes reflect neighbourhoods through resident workshops since 2022. Accolades include RIBA’s Neave Brown Award and Civic Trust for community engagement.

Recent completions like Mandeville Street, Chowdhury Walk, Tower Court, Wimbourne Street, and Buckland Street added over 250 homes with balconies/gardens and lower bills. A council spokesperson noted stable finances amid national pressures. Mayor Woodley prioritises housing alongside poverty and climate action.

What Challenges Face the Construction Industry in Hackney?

Significant financial challenges in construction and stringent regulations inflate costs, yet Hackney delivers amid industry woes. Cllr Nicholson acknowledged:

“Despite the rises in the cost of building new homes which is creating great problems for the wider construction industry in London, Hackney Council is determined to get on with planning, building and delivering the new homes that Hackney needs.”​

The programme’s 75% social rent commitment underscores affordability focus. Consultations ensure community buy-in, from on-site events to newsletters.​

Who Gets Priority for These New Homes?

Local people in desperate need receive first dibs, prioritised by housing requirements. Designs incorporate resident feedback to mirror neighbourhood character. Will Greatrex, Project Manager for Morris Blitz, invites involvement via will.[email protected].

This tranche advances Hackney’s 1,000-home goal by 2026, blending build and buy-back strategies. As consultations continue, the borough eyes sustainable, award-calibre housing for its communities.